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Apology

At 11am on Monday 16 November 2009, then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered a National Apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants. Malcolm Turnbull, then Leader of the Opposition, made his own apology. See a video and transcript of both apologies at the Parliament of Australia website.

Below are photos of the event in Canberra – click to enlarge.

Forgotten Australians enter the Great Hall, Parliament House.

The official party on stage in the Great Hall, Parliament House.

Assembling in the foyer of Parliament House before entering the Great Hall.

Mr Harry Jenkins MP, then Speaker of the House of Representatives, addresses guests in the Great Hall.

Apology and address from then Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd MP.

Guests in the Great Hall, Parliament House, during the apology and address from the Prime Minister.

Address from then Leader of the Opposition, Malcolm Turnbull MP.

Forgotten Australians, during formal proceedings of the national apology.

The Hon Maxine McKew MP.

Below are some of the many people for whom the Apology was a significant milestone. Click to enlarge.

Valda Hogan and Jenny Bosanquet

Sconey and Wayne Robert King

Janice Johnson, Sue Treweek and Diane Tronc

Trish Charter and Gail Favaloro

John Hennessey OAM, former child migrant, with photo of his late mother

Kevin Rudd and Sconey

Former child migrants: Jon Holmes, John Merrigan and Maurice Crawford-Raby

Glenda Bradshaw

Graeme Bradley and Kevin Parker

The following Forgotten Australians shared their stories with
National Museum staff. Click to enlarge.

Background to the apology

The apology was announced by the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, then Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, on 27 October 2009. In making the announcement Ms Macklin said:

The apology will acknowledge that what happened in the past was both real and wrong. It will make sure that a largely invisible part of our history is put firmly on the record. And it will remind the community of what happened to many of these children – the loss of family, the loss of identity and, in the case of child migrants, the loss of their country.